Picking-thimble for musical instruments



(No Model.)

N. E. BARNES.

PIGKING THIMBLE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 401,476.

Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

' "IVE/V TO? ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN E. BARNES, OF

BAY SHORE, NEW YORK.

PlCKlNG-THIMBLE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,476, dated April 16, 1889.

Application filed September 2'7, 1888- Serial No. 286,561. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, NORMAN E. BARNES, of Bay Shore, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Picking-Thimble for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to thimbles for picking stringed musical instruments, and has for its object to provide an effective device of this character.

The invention consists in a picking-thimble for stringed musical instruments, constructed as herein after described and claim ed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 illustrates the invention in use, and Fig. 2 is a view of the invention.

In operating stringed musical instruments, especially banjos, the fingers and thumb are liable to become sore and tender from the con stantfriction with the strings, so that the act of playing becomes painful to the performer. This is especially the case with professional players and with ladies whose hands are more tender than those of men. Furthermore, the finger-nails are liable to become broken, and at the same time to cut the strings in the effort to produce a louder and clearer sound by picking the strings with the finger-nails. In employing the fingers with the strings only a soft mufiied tone is produced. To obviate the foregoing objections and to enable the performer to give clear ringing sounds to the strings, when desired, the followingdescribed device is provided:

1 indicates the thimble, preferably made of metal, and formed with the tubular split portion 2, adapted to be slipped over the end of a finger or thumb, and having the inclined l concave projection 3, against the inside of which the end of the finger or thumb rests, and the rounded point A, which engages the strings of a stringed musical instrument in performing thereon. The rounded point 4 is gradually bent in adirection lengthwise with the tubular portion 2, so as to readily engage and slip over the strings of the instrument played upon.

By means of a thimble constructed as above described an effective device is provided, by means of which the fingers are prevented from becoming sore, the finger-nails protected, the strings kept from being cut, and loud clear sounds are produced.

For banjos two thimbles are necessary, for guitars three, and for harps they will be needed on all the fingers.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A picking-thimble for stringed musical instruments, formed with a tubular portion to fit over the end of a finger, a projection inclined downward over one end of the tubular portion and having an interior surface adapted to rest against the end of the finger, with a bent rounded point projecting lengthwise with the tubular portion, substantially as described.

2. A picking-thimble for stringed musical instruments, consisting of the split tubular portion 2, adapted to be slipped over the end of a finger, and having the inclined concave projection 3, with the rounded point 4:, bent in the direction of the length of the tubular portion 2, substantially as shown and described.

NORMAN E. BARNES.

\Vitnesses:

LEANDER 'l. BURR, NORMAN E. SMITH. 

